High Tea at High Gate - Whittlesea

Terrible service at the bakery todayThe pigeons ate all our food even though we tried shooing them away.

How is one to succinctly sum up the glory of the Abbotsford Convent and all that it holds? If you've never been it's hard to explain but I am damn well

A beautiful place for a coffee, a chat, a guilt free organic kale salad and a craft market shop.

The place is quaint with old decor but the food is really not worth the $50 each price tag. sausage rolls mini quiche some finger sandwiches and scones and cream.nothing outstanding , yes home made but just because you make it dosent mean you charge five star restaurant prices. Taste was average was like going to my mothers for lunch . If they cut the price Im sure they would get more business I wouldnt return and recommend you spend your hard earned money else ware. If you get top quality food your happy to pay top prices. This is low to average food $25 a head would be a more realistic price after all atmosphere can only take you so far . Tired of people who live in old buildings thinking that turning it into a restaurant and charging for overpriced under rated food is a good idea.

Visited High Gate for high tea with my daughter and husband. It's located in a lovely old farmhouse that has been authentically restored. First impressions of the grounds were of lots of bits and pieces of rusty farm implements , interesting and a little untidy. We were enthusiastically welcomed at the door by Cathy and shown to a table by a window. The room is quite small and crowded with tables that were set with cloth, lace cloth and plastic overlay. One could imagine the laundry required, not to mention possible dame, if the plastic was removed however it did spoil the 'refined' effect. Cathy apparently is an avid collector of all things pretty and old. The crockery was random selections of cup, saucer and plate, the glassware and cutlery was likewise vintage. Thankfully, only one other table was occupied and I image the noise level would be unbearable with a crowd present. Cathy presented us with a three tiered stand, the bottom contained hot and savoury food, sausage rolls, quiches, asparagus rolls, ribbon sandwiches, the missile contained an assortment of small cakes, and the top, scones. (jam and cream came in separate containers) While plentiful, the food was of only average quality and lacked refinement. It was pleasing to see there was three of everything and not so pleasing to find a hair in a sausage roll. We chose not to say anything as Cathy and her mother in law would have been mortified. Leaf tea was replenished and my husband's coffee was of barista quality. We were provided with take away containers for food left on the stand.A 10% discount is eroded for groups of more than 10 and for seniors, so the $50 per head became $45 for me and my husband. I imagine it would be difficult to take young children as there is so many items, crowded and breakable.